I get the distinct impression from some people that we are supposed to subsist on weeds and tap water. :mad:
Everybody on this thread has shares in fracking companies IMO …
Wait, people are saying “Sure, drink tap water; it’s not bad for you. You can spend your money on something more fun than bottled water.” and you’re mad about that? 
A great deal of bottled water IS tap water.
Drink out of random creeks, ponds, and rivers. You’ll be back to tap water pretty quickly.
One more time:
Tap water in the US (and other first world countries) is fine and healthy.
Chlorine is present in minute quantities, the main health effect of which is to kill off water-borne diseases that used to kill tens of thousands of people in North America every year. It’s like using soap when you wash your hands - sure, it’s a chemical, but it gets your hands cleaner. Chlorine in municipal water supplies cleans the water. It’s a good thing.
Fluoride strengthens your teeth. This effect was discovered when people studied why people in some regions had less tooth decay than other regions. The answer: the people with less decay had naturally higher levels of fluoride in their water supply. In the small amounts in municipal water supplies it’s a good thing, it makes your teeth healthier. As noted, in areas where water sources are unusually high in fluoride municipal water systems take it out, to reduce levels to something healthier. It’s a good thing.
Drink your tap water.
Would that assertion survive chemical analysis?
Mostly it’s filtered, thru more or less what your home carafe filter does- activated charcoal, etc. Get the chlorine out.
I’m not sure what you think chemical analysis would prove. You can generally tell groundwater from surface water (groundwater tends to be harder and doesn’t require as much disinfection), but treatment of municipal drinking water varies with the quality of the influent and that can vary daily, depending on the source.
According to Peter Gleick, author of Bottled and Sold, 55% of bottled water is spring water (groundwater), and 45% of bottled water is municipal (tap) water.
** treated** tap water. Honestly, ever since this meme started people got the strange idea they just run tap water into bottles. No, they do a little filtering first- or a lot of filtering/treatment, like reverse osmosis.
I don’t, but should I?
Ehhh, it’s more hygienic to use a purpose-built bottle. Reused bottles tend to harbour higher bacterial loads, and are difficult to sanitize. Not a problem for a steel or glass or even a thicker plastic bottle intended for reuse, as you can stick it in the dishwasher or scrub it with the rest of your dishes with hot soapy water.
OP, I’m glad you thought to ask about this! You can save yourself money, and reduce your carbon footprint, very very easily, but just not buying bottled water any more. I wish more people would do so.
My city put way too much chlorine in the water ! When I turn my water on
it’s like opening a bottle of bleach ! It taste so bad I had found my dog drinking my bottled water instead of his tap water . I know bottled water isn’t better for you but at least I can drink it. I know a few people that refuse to give their pets It sound like you work for your city water department the way you’re pushing tap water !
tap water.
Do note that chlorine is a gas. If you don’t like chlorine in your drinking water, all you have to do is leave it in an open container and the chlorine will escape within a few hours.
I know of no one who makes additional revenue when people use more tap water. In fact, most municipal water departments encourage you to use less.
Not sure but I used to love drinking water out the bathroom sink in the middle of the night while I was half sleep
Ok, then just buy one of those carafe filter things, like Brita. Hwaaaaaay cheaper than bottled and better for the environment.
There seem to be only a very few (and not terribly convincing) studies available regarding the effect of fluoride on thyroid function. Some of those studies suggest that excess fluoride (at least as evidenced by the presence of dental fluorosis) may be associated with hypothyroidism, i.e. low or under-active thyroid.
HERE is a free, full-text article looking at the question. In it, no relationship was found between fluoride and thyroid function. If you’re really interested in finding out more, and have access to a good library (which I don’t right now), references #1, 2, and 9 from the linked article might be the most informative.
Of course some municipalities can make a mess of tap water.…
I normally drink tap water, we have had situations here where huge scale agricultural runoff has resulted in the water system intake receiving water that has contaminants in it above accepted limits. The reality is that water is still probably safe, but they’ve had “do not drink” warnings issued because it’s over the limits. This has happened maybe 5 times in 10 years, and only persisted for a couple days.
I will note this about bottled water–under the law the bottler has to disclose it source. And “Spring Water” is a special term under FDA regulations, if water really comes from a spring then it can be marketed as spring water. A major spring water brand is Deer Park, Ice Mountain etc–they can legally advertise as spring water. Bottled water that is genuinely just tap water purified can’t market itself as spring water, Dasani and Aquafina for example market themselves as as purified water.
And how trustworthy is Peter Gleick?
Besides, My original point had nothing to do with the claimed benefits of bottled water. (I have lived for about 60 years in the Los Angeles area, whose water is notorious.) I was commenting, with some irritation, about how all things people like to drink are supposedly bad for us so we should only drink plain old tap water. We have had delivery for more than 20 years of Sparkletts, which, I can assure you, tastes far better than the water out of our kitchen (and bathroom) taps.